Waimea Falls in Oahu: admissions, how to get, tours,,,

If you are on Oahu and you decide to take a trip to the north of the island, you will discover, among other incredible places, the Waimea Valley, the ideal place to enjoy tropical nature, as well as trails and vegetation, it has one of the best waterfalls on Oahu.

If you want to visit Waimea Valley and Waimea Waterfall, I recommend you to choose between two alternatives:

The best option: an organised tour

The best way to arrive and enjoy a day in Oahu's wilderness is to hire a tour of North Oahu. This option not only includes minibus transfers from Waikiki and the company of an expert guide, but also allows you to enjoy the following places:

• Diamond Head State Monument and Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve natural areas.
• Halona Blowhole.
• Tropical Farms, The Macadamia Nut Farm Outlet.
• Mokoli'i Island.
• Banzai Pipeline.
• Haleiwa.
• Dole Plantation.
• Waimea.

In Waimea you will pass by the valley, full of waterfalls, trails and a beautiful botanical garden, and by the bay.

Renting a private vehicle

One of the few problems with a trip to the archipelago is the transportation options on Oahu, especially if you want to explore the island beyond the Waikiki and Honolulu area. There are some areas that are difficult to reach by public transport and you'll need to hire a car.

If you have your own car you'll need to take the H-1 westbound; the route will take about an hour to complete without stops and it's best to have a map of the route to hand.

Access to Waimea Valley is priced to allow you to enjoy all the facilities, including the waterfall, botanical trails and more. Below is a table of prices by category.

• Adults: Approximately €25 per adult ticket for ages 13 to 61 years old
• Seniors 62+: Approximately 18€ for ages 62 and up.
• Students: Tourists with accredited student ID pay €18 on presentation of ID.
• Children: Approximately €14 for children aged 4-12 years.

Of course there is! Waimea is a favourite tourist attraction and the best way to get to the waterfall is to take a tour of North Oahu. Waimea tours run every day, but they sell out extremely quickly so I recommend booking in advance.

It's a full day adventure that departs early in the morning (around 6:45am) to be back in Waikiki after 6pm.

Inside the park, for an additional cost you can access the Botanical Gardens.

To see Waimea Falls and the attractions on offer you will need to book at least 5 to 6 hours of itinerary time. This time includes two hours of transportation (one hour to and one hour back to Honolulu) and about 3 hours to enjoy the Valley, the waterfall and its amusements.

However, if your trip to the Hawaiian archipelago includes 3 days on Oahu or more, my recommendation is to reserve a full day for the experience and take advantage of the trip to the north of Oahu to visit other interesting destinations.

If you additionally want to free yourself from the hassles of planning, book a North Oahu tour that includes Waimea among the key activities.

Yes, if you're going to Oahu with kids, the Waimea Waterfall and Waimea Trail is definitely one of the recommended activities, as it's a fairly easy-to-run shaded trail and a short hike.

However, while it can be a fun family activity, remember that the age of your children is an important factor to consider. For example, if you are travelling with a baby, they will need to be on your lap during the bus rides.

You'll also have to do a lot of walking along the way, as well as getting on and off the bus several times, so a baby carrier is always a much better option than a conventional pram.

Yes, Waimea Valley and Waimea Falls are included in the island's most popular sightseeing pass, the Go Oahu Card. If you purchase this pass you do not need to buy tickets to visit Waimea while your pass is active and valid. You only need to present your accreditation at the ticket booth upon entry.

The attraction is zoned, so it may be helpful to have a map of Waimea Valley handy during your visit.

The flowers and vegetation of the valley

It would take a long time to explore Waimea Valley 's botanical collection but the maintenance and display staff do their best to display as many specimens as possible in as little time as possible.

Water lilies floating on the water, the beautiful hibiscus flower, bamboo plants, begonia, ginger flower and numerous tropical fruits await your appreciation.

A guided tour to learn about the local botany takes place every day at 12:30h in Waimea and is free with the purchase of your ticket.

Traditional Hawaiian games

Na Mea Pa'ani is the area dedicated to traditional Hawaiian games and one of the children's favourites within the park.

Show times are every day between 11am and 2pm. You'll find trained staff showing children and adults how to enjoy 'ulu maika and moa pahe'e (games of skill), konane (strategy game) and 'o'o 'ihe (game of strength).

Bird watching

Waimea is also one of Oahu's birding hotspots. Small, colourful feathered birds predominate.

If you're a fan of photography, birding or both, bring your camera battery ready and charged!

Waimea Trail

The Waimea Valley Trail is considered one of the best hikes on Oahu. At just one kilometre long, it's a pleasant, leisurely stroll along a shady path surrounded by exotic flowers to admire.

You'll also find the famous Hawaiian structures known as Hawiian Hale and at the end of the walk the reward is the beautiful Waimea Waterfall, where you can swim, rest and relax for as long as you like.

Waimea Valley is open to the public daily (Monday to Friday) from 09h00 in the morning until 16h00. These hours are maintained even on most public holidays in Hawaii.

However, be aware that the enclave is closed on certain dates, such as Thanksgiving Day (in the United States it is the 4th Thursday in November) and Christmas Day. If you plan to spend a few weeks in December on Oahu, don't schedule tours on these dates.

At Waimea Valley you will find several food and beverage outlets and areas in which to sit and enjoy a meal if you choose to prepare it in advance. If you decide to eat on site, you will be informed about the opening hours of each of the establishments.

• Hale Kope Cafeteria: Opening hours are from 08h to 15h in the afternoon. Here you can see the menu of Hale Kope.
• Kikoni Bar: Opening hours are from 10h in the morning until 16:30h in the afternoon; on Thursdays they work extended hours until 18h due to the Hale'iwa Farmers Market. Here you can see the menu of Kinoki Bar.
• Wahi ʻĀina Grill: The official opening hours are from 10am to 4pm, see the Wahi Aina menu here.
• Wailele store: The light snack shop is open from 10am to 4pm. It is very close to the waterfall.

Yes, you can swim at Waimea Falls unless the weather conditions are not favourable on the date of your visit. There are three pre-set conditions, which determine whether or not you can enter the water: regular swim, limited swim and no swim.

It is the lifeguards who set the special timetable for swimming in the waterfall. Normally, this can be done between 09:00 in the morning and 17:00 in the afternoon. This is an approximate schedule, as during the summer months on Oahu the window of time is wider, while in the winter months it may be shorter.

Waimea Waterfall has an impressive height of 14 metres and the water flow leads to a pool over 9 metres deep.

Finally, a few tips to make your hiking trip to Waimea Valley as fun as possible.

There are lockers and changing rooms near the waterfall

You'll find a whole service area with restrooms, changing rooms and lockers where you can store your belongings near the waterfall and enjoy the water without fear of losing or damaging your items. If you can't find the signs, ask the staff in charge.

What to bring to Waimea Valley and Waterfall

Visiting Waimea guarantees a few hours of fun in nature, but for more enjoyment I recommend that you bring some basic accessories, such as sunscreen, a hat and cap and mosquito repellent, as the humid tropical climate favours the appearance of these pesky creatures.

Oahu is very rainy, so it's a good idea to pack a waterproof coat or jacket as well as a rain umbrella. If you're going to Oahu in a group, make sure each member of the family has the accessories they need.

Finally, take a bottle of fresh water with you - you'll need it!

Take a botanical tour

There are many activities in the park, but my favourite is the botanical tours which take place every day around noon, around 12:30.

An expert botanical guide and park plant warden takes the group of hikers through Waimea's private botanical collection to learn about, appreciate and learn about the local flora loaded with beautiful, eye-catching colours.

If you're travelling on your own you can ask for information at the ticket office, but if you're travelling on a private tour ask the organising company if this experience is available as part of their scheduled activities.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes

On this adventure your clothing and footwear should be optimised for a day in nature. I recommend closed shoes such as trainers or hiking boots and avoid ballet flats, sandals or of course platforms.

Also prioritise breathable materials such as cotton. In general, any sports or gym clothing that facilitates mobility should work in this type of environment. Finally, don't forget your swimming costume!